Wing geometry in Triatoma infestans (Klug) and T. melanosoma Martinez, Olmedo & Carcavallo (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) |
| |
| Authors: | M. Gumiel,S. Catalá &dagger ,F. Noireau&Dagger ,A. Rojas De Arias§ ,A. Garcí a¶ , J. P. Dujardin |
| |
| Affiliation: | Instituto Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud, La Paz, Bolivia,;Centro Regional de Investigación Científica y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja, Anillaco, Argentina,;Institut de Recherches pour le Développement, Unitéde Recherche 016, Montpellier, France,;Instituto de Investigacion en Ciencias de la Salud, Rio La Plata y La Gerenza, Asunción, Paraguay,;Unidad de Parasitología, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile and;Unite Mixte de Recherches Centr National de Recherches Scientifiques and Institut de Recherches pour le Developpement 9926, Unitéde Recherche 062 BP 5045, Montpellier, France |
| |
| Abstract: | Abstract. Geometric morphometrics is a novel approach to biological shape analysis, and its application to medical entomology is just beginning. Here, we use it to examine geographical and interspecific variation in the Triatoma infestans complex, vectors of Chagas disease in southern Latin America. Using six landmarks defining the membranous part of the hemelytra, we analysed the geographical patterns of variation in several populations of T . infestans , including the recently described 'dark morph' of T . infestans from hollow trees in the Bolivian Chaco. As a potential outgroup, T. melanosoma was added to the sample. A consistent geographical differentiation was observed, but no evidence was found in either sex to consider either the dark morph or T. melanosoma as a species distinct from T. infestans . Triatoma melanosoma is relegated to synonymy with T. infestans (syn.n.). |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
